Efficacy of low oxygen against Trogoderma granarium Everts, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) and Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) in commercial applications

Abstract

In the present work, we evaluated low oxygen, through the increase of nitrogen, in different commodities (figs, plums and sultanas raisins) against Trogoderma granarium Everts (Coleoptera: Dermestidae), Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) and Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in commercial nitrogen chambers. Two different temperatures were evaluated, 28 and 40 °C, with 3 different exposure periods (2.5, 3 and 9 days). Adults, diapausing larvae, non-diapausing larvae and eggs of T. granarium, adults of T. castaneum and adults of C. maculatus were used in the trials. Vials with insects and commodity were placed in different locations inside the chambers and insect mortality was measured at the termination of each trial. Then, the vials with the commodity were kept in incubators at 25οC and 65% relative humidity and 65 days later progeny production was measured. Overall, our results clearly suggest that nitrogen treatment is effective for the control of the tested insects. Larvae of T. granarium are more tolerant than adults and eggs. Adults of T. castaneum and C. maculatus are susceptible, as 100% mortality was recorded for all trials. In general, low or no progeny production were recorded for most of the species tested here. Nevertheless, some survival was noted in the case of treatments that were carried out at the lowest temperature level and at the shortest exposure period. These results indicated that nitrogen can be used as an eco-friendly management strategy for the control of T. granarium, T. castaneum and C. maculatus, following a certain action plan that is based on specific temperature and exposure combinations.